Balanced-diaphragm dynamometer torque indicator



Jan 3, 1950 c, 5, MOORE ETAL 2,493,012

BALANCED-DIAPHRAGM DYNAMOMETER TORQUE INDICATOR Filed Sept. 30, 1944 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q N\ w Q cm W *7 Q 0 w Jan. 3, 1950 c. s., MOORE EIAL 2,493,012

BALANCED-DIAPHRAGM DYNAMOMETER TORQUE INDICATOR Filed Sept. 50, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm Mam, .WJma/d 6.6mm

Jan. 3, 1950 Filed Sept. 50, 1944 c. s. MOORE EI'AL 2,493,012

BALANCED-DIAPHRAGM DYNAMOMETER TORQUE INDICATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 3, 1950 BALANCED -DIAPHRAGM DYNAMOMETER TORQUE INDICATOR Charles S. Moore, Cleveland, Fred Voss, Lakewood, and Arnold E. Biermann, Cleveland,

Ohio

Application September 30, 1944, Serial No. 556,644

4 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, ll amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This invention relates to force measuring devices, and in particular to devices for measuring dynamometer torque.

In the testing of engines and other prime movers, various types of dynamometers are used, and many types of devices have been used to measure the dynamometer torque. A torque measuring device should have an accuracy of plus or minus 0.5 per cent and the readings should be remotely indicated. The indication should be unafiected by temperature, pressure and elevation with respect to the dynamometer. The measuring device should be rugged so that a calibration will be maintained over long periods of time; its calibration should be substantially a straight line without hysteresis; and the device should be unaffected by vibration.

It is the object of the invention to provide an improved dynamometer torque measuring device for laboratory use, of simple and rugged construction and which satisfies the above requirements.

Other objects will become apparent as the de scription proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic layout of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the diaphragm and diaphragm pressure control valve of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic layout of another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the combined diaphragm and pressure control valve of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 a dynamometer I is sultably mounted on a base 2. Attached to the dynamometer housing is a dynamometer torque arm 2 which extends horizontally from the housing so that its outer end can be connected to the torque measuring device.

Fastened to the base 2, and under the torque arm, is a platform 4 which supports a stand 5.

A diaphragm housing comprising an upper shell 2 and a lower shell 9 is fastened to the top of the stand by means of bolts i 2 which pass through mating flanges i and Ii on the periphery of the upper and lower shell respectively, as shown in detail in Fig. 2. A flexible diaphragm i5 divides the interior of the housing, the diameter of the diaphragm being larger than the interior diameter of the housing, and its edge portions being clamped in an airtight manner between the flanges Ill and II of the upper and lower shells. In a plan view. which is not shown. the diaphragm housing and diaphragm are circular in shape.

The upper and lower shells 8 and 9 have central aligned bosses It and II respectively. The

boss It has a large bore ll therethrough which provides a vent to the atmosphere from that part of the diaphragm housing above the diaphragm, and also provides a passageway for a vertical stem is which forms a connection between the diaphragm i5 and the torque arm 3. The boss I! has a tapped bore into which is threaded a pipe fitting 20.

Fastened to the flange II by one of the bolts l2 and a bracket 221s a valve housing 23 having an axial bore 24. The bore has three axially spaced enlarged portions forming annular ports 25, 26, and 21. The central port 26 is connected to the pipe fitting by a pipe 22. The lower port is connected to an air pressure line 30, and the upper port 21 exhausts to the atmosphere as by an exhaust line Ii. A needle valve 33 is incorporated in line 82 for a purpose to be described.

As shownin Fig. 2, a pair of spaced pistons 34 and 35 are mounted on a piston rod 36. When in the position shown in Fig. 2 the piston rod is in its mid-position, port 25 being closed by piston 34 and port 21 being closed by piston 35. A slight downward movement of the piston rod will cause piston 34 to uncover port 25, and air under pressure will flow from line 30, through port 25 and the axial bore 24, through port 26, pipe 32, and fltting 20 into the lower shell 5 and the space below the flexible diaphragm l5. During this operation the port 21 will remain closed by the upper piston 25. I! however, the piston rod moves upward from its mid position, it will uncover port 21 and the air under pressure in the lower shell and below the diaphragm may exhaust to the atmosphere via pipe 22, port 26, bore 24, port 21 and exhaust line 2|. During this exhaust operation the port 2! remains covered by the lower piston 34. The distance between the pistons 34 and 35 is such that while the two ports 25 and 2'! are closed by the pistons when the piston rod is in its mid position, the slightest movement upward- 1y or downwardly will uncover port 21 or port 25 respectively.

As shown in Fig. l, the air which flows through the pressure line 20 comes from a source of high pressure air, passes through an air filter and water trap 29, then through an adjustable reducing valve 40 and to the valve housing 22. A pressure gage 4| measures the pressure of the airon the low pressure side 0! the reducing valve.

A U-tube manometer 48 is connected by means of a pipe 42 to the pipe 22 closely adjacent to the point'where it enters the fitting 20, the manometer thereby measuring the pressure in the lower shell 5 below the diaphragm. A pressure gage 44 is also connected to the pipe 42.

The diaphragm I5 is a Neoprene impregnated fabric. As described previously its edges are clamped in an air-tight manner between the flanges i2 and II. A loading disk 41 shown in Fig. 2 has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the unclamped portion of the diaphragm and lies on top of the diaphragm as shown. The stem l2 passes through both the disk and the diaphragm, there being nuts 48 and 49' which clamp the diaphragm and disk to the stem in an airtight manner. 7

As shown in Fig. 1, the stem is extends vertically and passes through a lip 52 or the like 'on the torque arm 2, there being nuts 50 and 5| to fasten the stem to the lip and to permit vertical adjustment of the stem with respect to the lip. Vertical adjustment of the stem with respect to the disk and diaphragm is also permitted by the nuts 42 and 49, there being lock nuts 52 to prevent their loosening after adjustment.

A horizontal yoke 55 is fastened to the stem It as by welding. The piston rod has an extension 51 pivoted thereto by a pivotable joint 58, the extension 51 passing through the yoke 56 and being vertically adjustable therein by means of nuts 52 and 20.

In operation, in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the dynamometer tends to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l and the torque arm 2 therefore moves downwardly towards the stand 5. Air pressure from the pressure line passes through the valve housing 23 via port 25, bore 24 and port 25, thence through pipe 32 to the lower shell 9 into the space below-the diaphragm. The pressure of this air against the under side of the diaphragm exerts a force against the stem is in an upward vertical direction to resist the downward thrust of the torque arm 2. As soon as the pressure within the lower shell 2 is sufllcient to balance the downward thrust of the torque arm the diaphragm 15 with its disk 41 and the stem I! will come to rest in their neutral position. By means of the yoke 55 the piston rod 25 follows the vertical movements of the stem 12, and so when the stem I9 is in its neutral position the piston rod 26 will also be in its neutral position as shown in Fig. 2 where both the ports 25 and 21 are closed by the pistons 24 and 25 respectively. Since the system is airtight the stem l9, diaphragm l5, etc. will remain in this neutral position as long as the downward thrust of the torque arm 2 remains constant.

.Upon a decrease in the torque developed by the prime mover, which will result in a decrease of the downward thrust of the torque arm 2 the pressure underneath the diaphragm will consequently raise the stem i9 and rotate the torque arm 2 counterclockwise. Immediately as soon as the stem l5 rises, the piston rod 25 simultaneously rises, thus uncovering the port 21 and allowing some of the air under pressure in the lower shell 2 to exhaust through line 3| to the atmosphere. This decrease in the air pressure continues until the upward thrust of the stem I9 exactly equals the decreased downward thrust exerted by the torque arm 2. Since these two forces are now balanced the stem is and the diaphragm 15 return to their neutral position and return the piston rod 25 to its neutral position so that both ports 25 and 21 are closed.

If on the contrary, the prime mover should 4 e erts an increased downward thrust upon the stem it, this increased thrust will overcome the air pressure acting upon the bottom of the diaphragm i5 and consequently the stem is and piston rod will move downwardly.l This results in the uncovering of port 25 and the admission of an increased air pressure, which results in an upward thrust through stem it which will equal the increased downward thrust of the torque arm 2. The diaphragm l5, stem 12 and associated piston rod 25 will return to their neutral positions and ports 25 and 21 are both closed.

It is thus seen that any slight increase or decrease in torque developed by the prime mover will be immediately counter-acted by an increase or decrease in the air pressure acting against the diaphragm l5 and this diaphragm will always remain substantially in its neutral position, even during the intervals during which it is displaced due to a period of changing torque. The spacing of the pistons 25 and 24 is such that they immediately uncover either port 25 or port 21 as soon as the piston rod 25 is even slightly displaced from its neutral position. with ordinary pressures underneath the diaphragm l5 it has been found that there is no appreciable hunting of the diaphragm or valve and the associated parts. when the air pressures under the diaphragm are comparatively large due to large torques developed by the prime mover it has been found that there is an increased tendency of the diaphragm and valve to hunt, but this tendency can be overcome by adjustment of the needle valve 23 in the pipe 22.

The choice of size of the diaphragm i5 is determined by the load and desired manometer pressure. The most sensitive action is obtained with a diaphragm of large area inasmuch as the diaphragm area varies as the square of the effective diaphragm diameter, whereas the circumference of the diaphragm which governs the force required to move the diaphragm itself varies directly as the diameter. The diaphragm thickness, which in general is an inverse function of its flexibility. should be as small as it is consistent with the required strength. Air pressures as high as 25 lbs. per sq. in. have been used with- It and II is 10 inches. The portion of the diaphragm normally contacting the underside of the disc 41 may be cemented thereto or it may be maintained in contact with the underside of the disc 41 by a disc between the nut 42 and the diaphragm l5, such as that shown at 22 in Fig. 4. The disc may be of substantially the same diam eter as disc 41, but need not be of the same thickness as disc 41 since its only function is that of v pressing the diaphragm against disc 41. Care must be taken that no air leaks be permitted where stem I9 passes through the diaphragm or at the edges of the diaphragm where they are clamped between flanges l0 and II. -'With a construction as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 the maximum movement of the diaphragm. Piston rod develop an increased torque which thereby exand the associated elements is less than 0.030 in.

with changing load due to variations in the torque developed by the prime mover.

The pressures in the shell 8 are measured by.

the manometer 48 which may have any liquid having a suitable density, depending upon the pressures to be measured. Since the lines 42, 32, etc. are air filled, the manometer may be placed at any elevation with respect to the level of the diaphragm I5 without any errors in the indication.

In the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, a, dynamometer 83 is suitably mounted in the trunnions 84 and 85 and a prime mover (not shown) is connected to the shaft of the dynamometer at the flange 88 on the dynamometer shaft.

A torque arm 81 extends in a horizontal direction from the dynamometer housing. A yoke 88 is fastened to the torque arm by means of cap screws 58. Below the torque arm is a scale arm 18 pivotally connected at 11 to a stand 1| which is fixed to a base 12. The base 12 is suitably fixed to any support such as the floor 13 to which the trunnions 84 are fastened. The scale arm 18 is provided with a series of spaced holes 14, 15 and 18 as shown in Fig. 3, to the right of the pivot 11, the holes 15 being obscured by the bracket I82.

A connecting link 88 connects the yoke 88 to the scale arm 18 as shown in Fig. 3. In operation the normal load applied to the dynamometer 63 is such that the torque arm 81 and the link 88 move downwardly when viewed as in Fig. 3. This downward movement tends to rotate the scale arm 18 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 11. This rotation is resisted by the combined diaphragm and pressure control valve device 8| indicated generally in Fig. 3 and shown in an enlarged sectional view in Fig. 4. The device 8| has a central support 82 which is fastened to the base 12 in any suitable manner such as by a flange 83. On top of the stand 82 is a shallow cup 84 which is fastened to the support 82 by screws 85. The top edge 88 of the cup 84 is smoothly finished in a horizontal plane. A diaphragm 81 has its edge portion clamped between the top edge 88 and a ring 88 which is fastened to the top edge 88 by means of spaced screws 88 which pass through the diaphragm and are tapped into blind holes in the walls of the cup 84.

A disc 82 overlies the diaphragm 81 and a thinner disc 83 of substantially the same diameter underlies the diaphragm, the two discs being in axial alignment. A hollow screw 84 passes through the center of the discs 82 and 83 and the diaphragm, and a nut 85 externally threaded on the'screw 84 clamps the two discs and the diaphragm together and seals the opening through the diaphragm against air leaks. The screw 84 has a central threaded passageway 86 into which is threaded a valve seat 81 which has an axial passage I28 therethrough. At its bottom, the valve seat has a conical recess so that a valve 88, when pressed against the conical surface, will close the passageway. The valve seat 81 is vertically adjustable within the threaded passage 85 and may be fixed in position by a lock nut 88.

A spider I88 is fastened to the top of the disc 82 by cap screws I8I which are threaded into the disc 82 but are short so that they do not extend beyond the bottom surface thereof and contact the diaphragm 81. At their upper ends the legs of the spider I88 are joined to a bracket I82 which is U-shaped in cross-section with a vertical leg extending upwardly on each side of the scale arm I8. A pair of pins I83 pass through the vertical legs of the bracket and through the holes 18 (not shown) in the scale arm.

The support 82 has a chamber I84 therein which is aligned with a central hole I81 through the bottom of the cup 84. A tapped hole I88 extends below the chamber I84 as shown in Fig. 4 and terminates in a guide hole I88, having a smaller diameter. The valve 88 which has a vertical sliding movement has an upper guide provided by a strut II8 which extends from the head of the screw 84, and its lower end III is guided by the guide hole I88. A threaded bushingl I3 is threaded into the hole I88 and has a central passageway through which the valve 88 passes. A washer I I4 is fixed tothe valve 88 and a spring H5. is compressed between the washer and the top of the bushing 3, thus urging the valve 88 vertically upwards. Adjacent its lower end III the valve 88 has a conical portion II8 which engages a seat on the bottom of a tube II1 which is fixed in the center passageway of the bushing H3. The bushing H8 is vertically adjustable in the threaded hole I88 to adjustably position the tube I II. The upward movement of the valve 88 is limited by the engagement of its conical portion I I6 with the seat on the bottom of tube H1.

The valve seat 81. and the bushing II3 are so positioned, and the length of the valve 88 is such that when the diaphragm 81 together with the discs 82 and 83 are in their neutral position the valve 88 closes the central passageway through the valve seat 81 and the conical portion II8 of the valve 88 simultaneously sets against the bottom of the tube I II to close the passageway therethrough.

Air under pressure from line I28 passes through a filter and water trap. I2I thence to the reducing valve I22, needle valve I23 and line I24 as shown in Fig. 3 to a passageway I21 in the support 82. A pressure gage I25 measures the pressure in line I24.

The downward force on the scale arm 18 which tends to rotate it in a clockwise direction is counter-acted by the upward force exerted on the scale arm by the spider I88 and bracket I82 due to the air pressure underneath the diaphragm 81. In operation, when the'downward thrust of the scale arm 18 overcomes the upward thrust due to the air pressure, the scale arm forces the spider I88 and the diaphragm 81 downwardly. Since the valve 88 is in engagement with the valve seat 81, the downward movement ofthe diaphragm 81 and the discs 82 and 83 forces the valve 88 vertically downwardly and unseats the conical portion H8 of valve 88 from the bottom of the tube II1, thus allowing the air under pressure from line I24 to pass through the tube Ill and increase the air pressure under the diaphragm until the total force exerted on the diaphragm is sufiicient to balance the downward thrust of the scale arm I8.

If on the other hand the downward thrust exerted by the scale arm 18 should decrease due to a reduction in torque by the prime mover under test, the diaphragm 81, spider I88, etc., will move upwardly under the influence of excessive air pressure. The valve 88 cannot move upwardly with the diaphragm because of the engagement of the conical portion of the valve with the bottom of tube I I1. Therefore, immediately upon the slightest upward movement of the diaphragm and consequently of the valve seat 81 from their neutral position the central passageway I28 through the valve seat 81 is opened to communication with-the space under the diaphragmbecausethetopofthevalve "becomes displaced from the conical recess at the bottom of the valve seat l1. 1

In this embodiment it should be noted that a separate exit to the atmosphere is provided to reduce the pressure under the diaphragm whereas in the embodiment in Figs 1 and 2 the, same passage It provides both an exit and an entrance for the air under the diaphragm. With the adjustable valve seats of the embodiment of Fig. 4 in proper position with respect to the valve II, when the diaphragm is in its neutral position it has been found that the maximum movement of the diaphragm when accommodating itself to a changing torque is less than 0.015 inch.

A manometer ill may be positioned on an engine room wall I" as shown in Fig. 3, and is connected by a line ill and a tapped opening I32 to the interior of the cup 84 under the diaphragm.

In the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4 a substantialrange is provided because of the fact that the device ll may be shifted to various positions under the scale arm so that the bracket I02 can be engaged with the sets of holes II, II or II at various distances along the scale arm from its pivot 11.

this being of considerable advantage and leading to general over-all accuracy of tests. Stability of calibration has been found to be excellent. A change in the relationship of the valves governing the admission and discharge of air to the diaphragm chambers generally require a new calibration unless care is taken to accurately reproduce the initial settings. This is done by adjustl'br reverse operation of the dynamometer the device Oi may be similarly connected to' the scale arm as in normal direction of rotation of the dynamometer, and instead of using the connecting link II a tension connecting link I" which is shown in Fig. 3 passes through the yoke I and the scale arm II on the opposite side of its pivot. Nuts i3 and ill with an intervening washer on the bottom of the tension link I" may be tightened or loosened at suitable positions thereon to connect or disconnect respectively the yoke II to the left arm of the scale lever II. The top of the link ill may pass thromh the yoke 08 as shown, there being a nut ill at its upper end. The scale arm II is provided with a stop I near its outer end, to prevent damage to the apparatus by excessive torques in either direction.

The air balance diaphragmtype of force measuring instruments described and illustrated have proven to be rugged and adaptable. In both the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4 it is essential that the intake and discharge ports function simultaneously in order to avoid excessive movement of the diaphragm and possible hunting.

Because the precision of measurement can be no more accurate than the precision of reading the scale, it is imperative that the manometer'be of suillcient length to insure the desired readable accuracy. Liquids of various densities may be used in the manometers depending upon the torques to be measured and the readable accuracy desired. The use of air as a transmitting medium makes it convenient to locate the manometer at any elevation with respect to the diaphragm without the necessity of corrections in pressure head. Furthermore, the use of air in the transmission lines makes it readily possible to connect two or more remotely located indicating manometers in parallel and, where the tests require a complete time record of the torque, to provide a chart recorder. Where the dynamometer torques to be measured are unusually high'the dynamom'eter may be loaded with fixed weights to bring the manometer readings within the desired range; In the embodiment-of Figs. 3 and 4 a large range of torques may be measured because of the provision for changing the mechanical advantage of theing the screw or valve 91 until a definite size gage pin just slides under the beam in adjacent its end. In one physical embodiment a gage pin exactly five inches was utilized. It has been found that calibrations are reproducible even under vibrating loads. This feature is of considerable importance when the apparatus is used on dynamometer bed plates that are mounted on springs. Experiments have shown that a considerable variation in the air pressure supplied has no appreciable effect on the calibration of the apparatus.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes in construction,

I proportion and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States Of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

' 1. Torque measuring apparatus comprising a dynamometer freely mounted in bearing sup ports on a base plate and tending to move under the force of a torque to be measured, a pressure chamber movable on said base plate and having a flexible wall, adjustable means connecting the dynamometer to said flexible wall for transmitting the torque from said dynamometer to said flexible wall, valve means cooperating with said flexible wall and connecting to a source of pressure and to the atmosphere foradmitting pressure to or releasing pressure from said pressure chamber to balance said dynamometer torque,

said adjustable means comprising a lever having a fulcrum and arms connected to said dvnamometer and to said flexible wall respectively, the arm connected to said flexible well being substantial- 1y parallel to said base plate and having means for selectively connecting it to said flexible wall at varying distances from its fulcrum for operation at widely differing range of torques.

2. Torque measuring apparatus comprising a dynamometer freely mounted in bearing supports on a base plate and tending to move under the force of a torque to be measured, a pressure chamber movable on said base plate and having a flexible wall, adjustable means connectingthe dynamometer to said flexible wall for transmitting the torque from said dynamometer to said flexible wall, valve means cooperating with said pressure exerting device ll by connecting it at 76 sure and to the atmosphere for admitting presalong said lever.

3. Torque measuring apparatus comprising a dynamometer freely mounted in bearing supports on a base plate and tending to move under the force of a torque to be measured, a pressure chamber movable on said base plate and having a flexible wall, adJustable means connecting the dynamometer to said flexible wall for transmitting the torque from said dynamometer to said flexible wall, valvemeans cooperating with said flexible wall and connecting to a source of pressure and to the atmosphere for admitting pressure to or releasing pressure from said pressure chamber to balance said dynamometer torque, said adjustable means comprising a lever having a fulcrum and arms connected to said dynamometer and to said flexible wail respectively, the arm connected to said flexible wall being substantially parallelto said base plate, and means for adjusting the length of said am comprising a 30 spider secured tosaid flexible wall. means for securing said spider at'any one of several positions along said lever, and a pair of links between said dynamometer and said lever having lost metion connections at opposite sides of said fulcrum for transmitting the force of the dynamometer torque acting in either direction to said flexible wall in the same operative direction.

4. Torque measuring apparatus as defined in claim 3, .an adjustable balance weight slidably mounted on said lever for balancing the weight of said spider and wall, and a stop member for said lever mounted rigidly on said base plate near the end of the arm connected to said spider.

CHARLES S. MOORE. FRED VOSS.

ARNOLD E. BIERMANN.

REFERENCES man The following references are of record in flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 751,295 Jones Feb. 2, 1904 1,580,430 Gaines Apr. 13, 1923 2,013,222 Thomas Sept. 3, 1935 2,013,810 Shimek Sept. 10, 193.5 2,121,623 Bobek June 21, 1938 2,131,486 Spitzglass Sept. 27, 1938 2,235,279 Bunker Mar. 18, 1941 2,313,509 Bohannan Mar. 9, 1943 2,336,838 Bennett Dec. 14, 19!; 2,345,732 Davies et al Apr. 4, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 275,985 Germany July 1, 1914 

